Kevin’s POV
“Let’s go together.” The men said when the old man left us alone and went back to his house by the outskirts of town.
I shook my head. There was no need for that. I thought as I glanced at the map with me. The river wasn’t far and the way there wasn’t as dangerous as that of the jungle had been. We only needed to walk a long path till we get there and the fewer we were, the faster we could get back.
“We don’t need to go in bunch.” I said as I turned to the eager men. “I know you all love Liam and would walk through the fires for him but I would only be taking Ella and Damien with me. The rest of you should help the village doctor and nurse to watch over Liam till we get back. Clean him off, always check up on him and make sure he is comfortable till we are back. Is that okay without everyone?”
“Yes, my lord.” They all echoed with a bow of their heads. “Safe journey.”
“Thank you.” I said and walked outside with the others on my trail.
We met the doctor on his way in, rushing over as we stepped out. He bowed slightly as he saw me. “I heard about what happened to your man. I’m sorry about that.”
I nodded and gave him a weak shrug. “You don’t have to do that. It isn’t your fault. Please take care of him while we are away.”
He nodded as he sucked in a breath. He must have heard the gory details from those who saw Liam when we brought him before we got him to a room. I didn’t want his pity. I realized suddenly that no one had even asked if Ella was able to get the slave mark off.
Liam’s unfortunate accident had preoccupied everyone’s mind that they had forgotten why we went to the jungle in the first place.
“I will make sure I keep him alive till you get back.” He said.
I nodded and moved away from him and set out with Ella and Damien. I hoped that Liam wouldn’t die before I get back. I had no doubt that the villagers wouldn’t hesitate to put a sword into Liam’s heart if we were late so he wouldn’t turn to a cannibal and kill them.
I would be devastated at the news of his death if I heard it but I would understand. They didn’t run away from their masters and endured months of horrible nightmares just to end up in the bellies of a cannibal.
“Where should we turn to?” Ella asked as we walked out of the settlement where the slaves lived.
I looked at the three different roads before us and glanced at the map. I raised my head up and pointed at the one in the middle. “We go that way.”
We all shifted in mutual agreement without speaking and started running. That was the quickest way to get to the river on time. We would be faster if we were in wolf forms than if we were in human forms.
We ran till we got to another bend and shifted into human forms. I looked back and was amazed at how fast we had moved. We had covered three times the distance we would have covered if we had moved in human forms.
“Where next?” Ella asked.
I brought out the map and glanced at it, looking at the two roads in front of us. “We go towards the right.” I said and tucked the map back into my pocket, knowing I wouldn’t be needing it again.
We didn’t need to make any more turn and all we needed was to go straight till we get to the river.
“How far are we to the river?” Ella asked.
“Not that far.” I replied.
“Do we still need to shift or we should go in human form?” She asked.
“It’s not that far but we should shift and go in wolf form so we can get there on time.”
I glanced at Damien, wondering why he was silent. He had been walking alongside, shifting and running without a word. It was unlike him.
“Are you okay?” I asked, staring at Damien. “You’ve been quiet all through the journey.”
“I can’t stop thinking of the general. I’m praying for him.”
I nodded. “He will be fine.”
He nodded, believing me. After all, I would be more affected than anyone of them if anything happened to Liam. Asides losing my right hand man, I didn’t want to break bad news to his family. I didn’t want to deal with Maya and her drama if I have to go home to tell her that her brother died.
She would be grief stricken at the news of his death and mad too if she heard that he died protecting Ella. She would hate Ella and turn everyone especially the female wolves against her. They would make Ella’s life miserable at home and that wasn’t the welcome I was hoping that my mate would get.
It wasn’t like I deluded myself that she would be welcome with excitement when we get home but I didn’t want to have her journey back home be more miserable than it would have been.
I was more than desperate to get the cure for Liam and make sure he didn’t die.